August 31

I had a mini breakdown in the supermarket this morning while writing a check when the cashier informed me that it was August 31. (Yes, I am one of those annoying people who still writes checks and holds up the line. I've heard you sighing behind me. I have no idea why I do, except that maybe it makes me feel more accountable, or something.)  I actually fake-cried in front of her. Because I really thought it was August 30, and that I still had one more day of summer left.  I just spent 8 days sitting on the beach in Cape Cod. I'm not ready.

I am one of those people who insist on holding on to September 23 as the end of summer. Summer isn't over until fall starts, technically, as I love to point out to people.  But, who am I fooling? Once September 1st rolls around and school starts, it's basically fall. The nights get cooler, I start thinking about how nice it will be to wear a sweater again… I start planning when I'll take my preschool class apple picking and wondering as I drive by farm stands selling mums when I should break down and buy some.

Life is funny- it's a yin and yang of holding on and moving forward.  New Englanders especially hold on to summer, particularly after a winter as bad as the last one we had. The mild-mannered pleasant woman bagging my groceries this morning said (making my fake sobbing worse), "Yep. August 31. Means we're even closer to 'You-Know-What.' And they say it's going to be even worse this year!" To which the somewhat cranky, very opinionated older woman cashier replied, loudly and scoldingly (soliciting eye-rolls in my direction from the bagger), "There's nothing worse than people talking about the weather!! There's nothing you can do about it! Why complain?! I mean, it's New England! It gets cold! It snows!! Big deal!! All I care about is whether or not I can get out of bed in the morning. If I can, it's a good day, no matter what the weather is!! " (I can't wait until I'm old enough to act like her in front of complete strangers.)

You know what? She's right. It's 90 degrees out. It's August 31, and I'm going swimming. And I can't wait until it's cold enough to have a big crackling fire in the fireplace and we get enough snow for my first snow day!